The characterization of dendronized poly(ethylene glycol)s and poly(ethylene glycol) multi-arm stars using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Brittany K. Myers, Boyu Zhang, Joanna E. Lapucha, Scott M. Grayson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The synthesis of branched poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives, namely star PEG and dendronized PEG, can be challenging and their purity can be difficult to ascertain using traditional techniques, such as NMR and GPC. Herein, the detailed characterization of these branched PEGs using MALDI-ToF MS was investigated in order to confirm their structural purity. In this light, mass spectrometry offers a number of advantages for polymer characterization, including the ability to get detailed structural data, such as end group masses, from microgram-scale samples. In addition, the ability to rapidly acquire data from crude reaction aliquots makes MALDI-ToF MS ideal for monitoring end group transformations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)175-189
Number of pages15
JournalAnalytica Chimica Acta
Volume808
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2014

Keywords

  • Dendronized polymers
  • Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS)
  • Poly(ethylene glycol)
  • Polymer characterization
  • Star polymers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Spectroscopy
  • Environmental Chemistry

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